7 years later,
The morning sun spilled softly through the sheer white curtains, casting golden ribbons across the wooden floors of the quaint estate in the quiet quarter of Velmire. Birds chirped from the treetops, and the aroma of baked bread wafted gently from the kitchen.
Inside the upper chambers of the manor, the old cuckoo clock struck seven.
Gracy, dressed in her usual pressed apron and striped linen dress, pushed open the door to Nerine's room with a sigh and a teasing scowl.
"Nerine, the sun's up. Again. Unlike you."
From beneath a mountain of blankets, a muffled voice groaned, "Five more minutes…"
Gracy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You say that every morning, and then it becomes an hour. I don't have the strength of a goddess to pull you out of bed, you know!"
Nerine peeked out from the blanket cocoon, blinking sleepily. Her voice came out hoarse. "Then consider yourself blessed to witness me in my rarest form—morning-mode monster."
Gracy burst into laughter. "More like bed-headed gremlin."
"Close enough," Nerine yawned and finally sat up, her long black and white hair tumbling around her face.
Gracy walked over and flicked her forehead lightly. "Come on. Madam Helen's already at the table. If we're late again, she'll scold us both. And you know how dramatic she gets with her 'if only I had daughters with punctuality' speeches."
Nerine chuckled and tossed her blanket off, stretching. "Alright, alright. Lead the way, your grace."
In the cozy sunlit dining room, the scent of fresh tea and warm bread welcomed her like a hug. Madam Helen, now older but still regal in her emerald dressing gown, sat reading the town scroll, her spectacles perched on the edge of her nose. Noah, in his worn waistcoat, sat sipping tea with a stoic expression, though a smile tugged at his lips the moment Nerine entered.
"Good morning, sunshine!" Nerine greeted, leaning over to plant a peck on Madam Helen's cheek. "You look powerful today."she said with a beam.
Madam Helen snorted behind her teacup. "Charming as always, Nerine. And late, as always."
Nerine turned to Noah, her hands on her hips. "And good morning to you, Noah the ever-stern, ever-secretly-sweet knight of the carriage realm."
Noah gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Morning, milady."
The four laughed as Nerine slid into her seat and grabbed a slice of warm bread, tearing it like a wolf. Gracy plopped beside her with a dramatic sigh of survival.
"Honestly, child," Madam Helen said, setting down her cup. "How someone so graceful in jewelry is so graceless in mornings is beyond me."
Nerine raised a brow as she chewed. "Balance. Nature loves balance."
"Nature will love smacking you upside the head if you don't start waking up like a proper young lady," Helen replied with a mock scowl.
Nerine grinned. "Oh no! I'm being mothered again. What shall I do?"
"Eat. Then bathe. Then work. In that order."
Breakfast ended in more teasing and soft chuckles. The warmth at the table felt like a patchwork quilt....stitched from time, care, and chosen family.
Back in her room, the bath Gracy had prepared steamed invitingly. Nerine soaked in the warmth for a while, letting it loosen her thoughts.
Afterward, she dried off and stepped in front of the full-length mirror.
She paused.
Her reflection was striking—her skin glowed with a softness like porcelain, untouched by age or wear. Her frame, strong yet delicate. But her hair…
Long, thick, and now more silver-white between the black, flowed down her back in a shimmering cascade.
People whispered. Said she had a rare illness. That she was cursed. That she was aging backwards. Or too fast. Or not at all.
Nerine chuckled to herself. "talkatives."
Just then, Gracy entered holding a folded outfit. "What's funny now?"
Nerine blinked, still caught in her thoughts. She smiled. "Nothing. Just remembered something dumb."
Gracy raised a brow but said nothing, handing her the clothes.
Nerine dressed in a fitted cream shirt and the dark men's trousers that she had Noah sneak in for her.
"You'll scandalize half the town in those," Gracy murmured with admiration.
"Then I'll be the best-dressed scandal of the day."
With Gracy's help, she tied her hair into a high ponytail, strands shimmering like frost under morning light.
Downstairs again, she found Madam Helen putting on her gloves near the foyer.
"I'm heading out later, but you'll go with Noah today," she said without looking up. "Public carriages are buzzing with gossip again. Best avoid it."
Nerine tilted her head. "Oh? What's the rumor this time? That I eat sapphires and bathe in moonlight?"
Helen glanced at her with amusement. "Close. That you turned a nobleman's beard white with one look."
Nerine bowed. "Truly, my legend grows."
Helen shook her head fondly. "Get going before you turn my dining room into a theatre."
"Already did." Nerine winked and waved. "Love you!"
"Hurry before I change my mind and make you stay to wash the floors!"
Noah waited outside beside the familiar black carriage, holding the door open with a small smile.
Nerine climbed in, waving back to Gracy and Madam Helen.
Another day awaited in the heart of Hollowood's merchant square—and the most popular jewelry store in town, was about to open its doors, with Nerine at its helm.